The Parc Fermé F1 Podcast

Lando Norris won a wet 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix, yet Max Verstappen’s drive from 21st to second stole the show. Isack Hadjar made it a Red Bull double podium, Mercedes clinched the 2026 Constructors’ Championship, and a late penalty for Charles Leclerc changed the final order.Here is what we covered in Episode 1016.We also get into why two of the three penalties after the race changed nothing, and the five way fight for second in the championship with three races to go.Listen to Episode 1016 now, and tell us whether Verstappen’s charge was the drive of 2026. Next stop: Las Vegas, November 20 to 22.Chapters:00:00 A São Paulo race review with former driver Paul02:00 Monza and the WEC season’s closing moments03:00 Why the wet-dry-wet race tested tire decisions05:37 Leclerc’s late contact with Lawson and the penalty06:24 Mercedes secures its ninth constructors’ title08:00 Ferrari’s strategy and the back-row recovery gamble10:49 Remembering world champion Alan Jones13:09 Norris’s slick-tire timing turns into a dominant win17:27 Piastri’s fading challenge and Red Bull’s resurgence19:16 Verstappen charges from P21 to second23:01 Hadjar’s podium and Red Bull’s team dynamics28:38 Mercedes’ handling troubles and cold-tire setup questions34:21 Antonelli’s penalty and Lawson’s promotion35:39 Lawson’s momentum and Racing Bulls’ fifth-place fight39:16 Ferrari’s contrasting struggles for Leclerc and Hamilton40:49 Hamilton’s opening charge, slick-tyre gamble and costly spin44:34 Audi’s points and Hülkenberg’s penalty47:11 Alonso delivers as Stroll retires51:55 Colapinto’s defense and Alpine’s points drought56:16 Williams fades as Haas endures pit-stop trouble57:04 Câmara’s home debut and Cadillac’s quiet race01:00:42 Race awards: Verstappen’s charge and Ferrari’s low point01:05:00 Norris’s winning drive and the road to Las VegasYou can catch all our podcasts on your favorite player or right here: https://theparcferme.com/category/podcast/

Todd and professional driver and Aston Martin Heart of Racing sporting manager Paul Charles review the Mexican Grand Prix, focusing on Kimi Antonelli's historic championship, Ferrari's costly intra-team battle, and Max Verstappen's comeback.They also discuss Liam Lawson's run-in with Verstappen, Esteban Ocon's replacement by Ryo Hirakawa, and the race's team-by-team performances through Mercedes. Todd and Paul (The International) wrap up their review of the Mexican Grand Prix, weighing team strategy, penalties, driver performances and race-day reliability. They hand out their race awards, then look ahead to Interlagos and the Brazilian Grand Prix.Chapters:00:00 Mexican GP preview and Paul Charles joins01:34 WEC schedule and the Le Mans invitation route02:34 Antonelli's record-breaking world championship05:14 Mercedes' testing, coaching and driver development07:22 Antonelli's aggressive racing and a memorable podium11:15 Ferrari's turn-four incident and the penalty debate14:52 Why Leclerc and Hamilton should have avoided the fight17:19 Verstappen's resurgence and the Lawson clash19:19 Hirakawa replaces Ocon at Haas22:14 Red Bull: Verstappen's strategy seals the win25:28 Ferrari: fast pace, costly mistakes32:08 Mercedes: Antonelli reaches the podium33:06 Antonelli’s podium mindset and Russell’s lost places36:03 McLaren’s strategy debate and Piastri’s collision38:41 Lindblad’s promising race and Lawson’s disqualification42:08 Hirakawa earns a debut point; pit-stop problems mount47:11 Bearman’s retirement and Williams’ difficult afternoon48:55 Alpine’s double yellow-flag penalties reshape the points51:19 Cadillac’s pace, Perez’s charge and Bottas’ crash54:21 Cadillac’s driver future and Aston Martin’s double DNF57:20 Race awards: Perez, Antonelli, Verstappen and Ferrari01:00:43 Interlagos preview and the Formula Ford Festival shout-outwww.theparcferme.comYou can catch all our podcasts on your favorite player or right here: https://theparcferme.com/category/podcast/

Todd and Paul Charsley, the Heart of Racing Aston Martin team's sporting manager and a former professional driver, review the US Grand Prix at Austin. They assess the title and constructors battles, debate race strategy and stewarding, and discuss how driver attitude and team relationships affect performance.Chapters:00:00 Welcome back, with microphone trouble and Valkyrie testing02:04 Valkyrie Evo: less aero-sensitive, but still homologation-limited06:20 COTA's luxury suites replace public Turn One viewing08:09 Clarkson's remarks, Antonelli's title prospects, and COTA bumps14:59 Antonelli wins as Russell struggles to find a way past20:17 Why focusing on your teammate can deepen the performance gap23:24 Leclerc's daring pass and Hamilton's setup struggles28:00 Verstappen's strategy and Red Bull's operational problems32:16 Hadjar's radio outbursts and the value of team respect38:13 McLaren's recovery and Racing Bulls' smart qualifying sacrifice43:15 Midfield points, penalties, and the Aston Martin weekend50:00 Sainz's retirement prompts ideas for faster car recovery53:35 Race awards: standout overtakes, frustration, and top drives57:27 How drivers manage tight helmets and vision01:00:08 Mexico preview: the fight for second is still wide openYou can catch all our podcasts on your favorite player or right here: https://theparcferme.com/category/podcast/

Christian Horner just gave his most revealing interview since Red Bull let him go. In episode 1013 of The Parc Fermé, we break it down, along with F1’s new Rwanda deal and Kimi Antonelli’s first shot at the title.We are also launching a new feature called Big Deal or Not? For every story, we ask whether it actually matters or is just loud. Then we explain why.Chapters:00:00 Introduction and episode overview00:03 Christian Horner's book and media presence00:30 The strategic importance of race locations00:51 Impact of geopolitics on racing in Africa and the Middle East01:01 The significance of early championship wins01:05 Discussion on the Rwanda Grand Prix deal01:10 Personal stories from the paddock: Christian Daniels Jr.01:14 The influence of race funding and government backing01:20 Controversies and ethical considerations in Africa01:22 Discussion on race cancellations and location changes01:26 The role of industry personalities and their stories01:42 The future of racing in Europe and potential new venues01:47 Team dynamics and driver management insights01:50 The importance of the constructor's championship02:03 The impact of geopolitical tensions on race planning02:09 The significance of young drivers and upcoming talents02:14 Historical context: Schumacher's records and current prospects02:16 Race track design and technical details02:18 The influence of industry legends and personal anecdotes02:23 Geographical insights: Baku below sea level and regional proximity02:27 The role of media and personal stories in racing02:43 Regional politics and sports washing concerns02:46 Closing thoughts and upcoming races02:51 Future prospects for F1 in Africa02:58 Closing thoughts and key takeawaysYou can catch all our podcasts on your favorite player or right here: https://theparcferme.com/category/podcast/

Max Verstappen won the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix from pole, his first ever win at Marina Bay. He also took Sprint pole and won the Sprint, completing a sweep of the weekend. Charles Leclerc finished second and Kimi Antonelli third. Antonelli now leads the championship by 102 points with six races to go.In this episode, we cover:FIA errors: Race Control’s Overtake Mode mistake in Sprint Qualifying and the timing glitch that cleared Hulkenberg in qualifying.Hamilton’s VSC call: Why he stayed out under the Virtual Safety Car, and how Fred Vasseur’s explanation changed from “missed the pit entry” to “I have to respect their feeling.”McLaren’s Sprint collision: Norris and Piastri’s crash cost about eight points, and Red Bull is now seven points behind McLaren for third in the constructors.Awards: Move, Donkey and Drive of the Race.Next up is the United States Grand Prix in Austin, October 23 to 25.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to the Singapore GP and race overview00:10 Introduction and Race Overview02:02 Race controversies and FIA system failures02:58 Max's Dominance and Race Strategy03:59 Team strategies and driver decision-making06:02 Red Bull's dominance and Verstappen's performance07:02 Key Incidents and Penalties08:00 Ferrari's pit stop strategy and race incidents09:53 The role of technology and system reliability11:51 Media influence and public perception in F112:12 Team Strategies and Pit Stops14:01 Driver authority and team communication16:07 Future implications for F1 regulations and technology16:12 Track Limits and Rule Enforcement20:05 Technical Issues and Driver Performance24:02 Impact of Race Incidents on Standings27:56 Future Implications for Teams and Drivers32:01 Closing Remarks and Key TakeawaysYou can catch all our podcasts on your favorite player or right here: https://theparcferme.com/category/podcast/

Max Verstappen won the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia from pole. He finished 2.3 seconds ahead of Kimi Antonelli, with Lewis Hamilton third. It was the first win for Red Bull Ford Powertrains in its first season. George Russell's late engine failure pushed Antonelli's championship lead out to 84 points.Chapters:00:00 Introduction and race overview00:10 Race overview and key moments03:59 Sepang track changes and weather challenges04:08 Strategy decisions and their impact on race outcomes08:05 Software bugs and race delays08:13 Driver performances and notable incidents12:02 Team strategies and tire choices in rain12:16 Technical issues and software glitches explained15:59 Red Bull's chassis development and future prospects16:03 Team strategies and pit stop analysis19:56 Race incidents and driver performances20:05 Driver maturity and race craft insights23:59 Implications for 2027 and car adaptability24:05 Tire choices and race condition effects27:49 Track design and aerodynamics insights28:17 Broader implications of technical failures in F131:57 Race conclusion and key takeaways32:04 Final thoughts and race lessons learnedYou can catch all our podcasts on your favorite player or right here: https://theparcferme.com/category/podcast/

Join Paul and me as we analyze the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, discussing race controversies, team strategies, driver performances, and upcoming races. We provide occasional insights into the complexities of Formula 1 racing and the strategic decisions behind the scenes.Chapters:00:00 Race weekend overview and race controversy01:56 Team strategies and driver performances03:58 Controversial incidents and race bans08:05 Analysis of race strategies and safety cars12:02 Discussion on team dynamics and driver decisions16:05 Regulatory insights and historical precedents19:59 Race results and driver highlights23:57 Preview of Bahrain Grand Prix and upcoming raceswww.theparcferme.comYou can catch all our podcasts on your favorite player or right here: https://theparcferme.com/category/podcast/

Cadillac's owner is being sued, Haas is chasing sponsor money for 2027, F1 just put a sprint race in Monaco, and Alpine hired the man behind Zero Pod! Podcast #1009 is live. Join Grace and me as we cover all the news in Formula 1 this week! Chapters:00:00 Introduction and episode overview00:01 Introduction to F1 schedule updates and race venues00:25 Discussion of F1 team ownership and financial issues02:07 The impact of AI tools like Copilot in the workplace03:04 Todd's birthday and Formula One connections03:28 The return of Turkey and Portugal to the F1 calendar04:13 Cadillac F1 team lawsuit and ownership controversies06:23 F1 team regulations and the role of reputation07:10 Analysis of sprint race formats and viewer engagement07:43 Toyota's potential involvement in F1 and strategic considerations10:04 Dan Tauris, F1 leadership, and legal challenges12:02 Monaco GP as a qualifying event with a race attached13:25 The future of Haas and potential partnerships17:10 The 2027 F1 calendar and race locations19:58 The strategic importance of Monaco for F1 teams20:21 Summary and closing thoughts on F1 industry trends29:59 Mike Elliott's return to Alpine and team restructuring40:01 The implications of leadership changes at Mercedes and Alpine49:58 The future of F1: schedules, sprints, and team strategies59:54 Closing thoughts and upcoming race expectationsYou can catch all our podcasts on your favorite player or right here: https://theparcferme.com/category/podcast/

Kimi Antonelli won the 2026 Spanish Grand Prix at the Madring, Formula 1's first race in Madrid, but Lando Norris was the fastest driver on track and lost the win to the timing of a Virtual Safety Car. We explain exactly why Norris was the only front runner who did not get a cheap pit stop, why drivers already asked the FIA to fix this rule, and how a long pit lane and a layout with no passing zones made it worse. Then a full team by team review, Verstappen's fight with the pit wall and with Hamilton, Ferrari's 48 lap gamble, Russell conceding the drivers' title, and the championship math heading into Baku.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to the Madring race and track overview03:09 Track layout, design, and capacity details04:35 Driver expectations versus race reality09:06 Race incidents and strategic decisions14:00 Team performances and driver highlights18:01 Max Verstappen's race tactics and overtakes23:01 Qualifying and race pace analysis27:02 Safety car procedures and race management31:58 Driver performances: Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and others35:56 Lessons learned and future improvements for MadringYou can catch all our podcasts on your favorite player or right here: https://theparcferme.com/category/podcast/

Kimi Antonelli won the 2026 Italian Grand Prix at Monza from nineteenth on the grid, becoming the first Italian to win at Monza since 1966 and extending his championship lead over George Russell to 66 points. In episode 1007 of The Parc Fermé, we break down the Mercedes Virtual Safety Car decision that cost Russell the win, including why Mercedes split strategies, why Russell stayed out on old hard tires, and what Toto Wolff and Andrew Shovlin actually said afterward.We cover Pierre Gasly maiden pole position for Alpine, Max Verstappen podium recovery and the Red Bull deployment deficit that left him feeling like a turtle on the straights, Charles Leclerc crash and the Lewis Hamilton collision that ended Ferrari home race inside two corners, the Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri final lap fight at McLaren, and the Audi appeal over Yuki Tsunoda restart. Full team by team analysis of all eleven teams, race awards, championship standings, and a look ahead to the first Formula 1 race at the Madring in Madrid.We answer:Why did Mercedes not pit George Russell under the Virtual Safety Car at Monza?Why did Mercedes split strategies between Antonelli and Russell at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix?Who was the last Italian driver to win at Monza before Antonelli?Why did Charles Leclerc crash at Monza in 2026?Was Leclerc or Hamilton at fault for the Ferrari clash at the Monza first chicane?Why was Pierre Gasly pole position at Monza a surprise?Why is Red Bull slow on the straights in 2026?Why is Audi appealing the Yuki Tsunoda decision from the Italian Grand Prix?Chapters:00:00 Introduction to the Italian Grand Prix and race overview00:22 Introduction and race overview02:05 Key incidents at the first corner03:57 Mercedes' strategic decisions and tire choices05:05 Driver performances and recovery strategies10:00 Pierre Gasly's pole position and race performance10:15 Team strategies and pit stop decisions15:08 Kimi Antonelli's race win and young driver impact15:33 Safety concerns and driver health updates19:58 Max Verstappen's race challenges and technical issues20:24 Analysis of team performances and standings25:05 Race strategy analysis during safety car periods25:11 Future outlook and upcoming race expectations29:56 Team tactics and driver management insights34:58 Performance of other teams: McLaren, Ferrari, and Alpine39:59 Key takeaways and future race outlooksYou can catch all our podcasts on your favorite player or right here: https://theparcferme.com/category/podcast/